What connecting Instagram to Facebook does
Connecting your Instagram account to Facebook lets you share posts to both platforms at once, manage both accounts from one place, and see your Instagram messages in Facebook's messaging app. Meta (the company that owns both) makes this connection straightforward — it takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your phone's Instagram app or on Instagram's website.
The connection is optional. You can use Instagram without linking it to Facebook, and you can unlink them anytime. But if you post regularly to both platforms, connecting them saves you from uploading the same photo or video twice.
Key Takeaways
- You need a Facebook account and an Instagram account with the same email address or phone number to connect them.
- The connection happens in Instagram's settings under "Accounts Center" — you do not need to open Facebook itself.
- Once connected, you can choose which posts go to Facebook, Instagram, or both when you upload.
- Connecting them does not share your old posts — only new ones you choose to cross-post after the connection is made.
How to connect on your phone
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Look for Accounts Center and tap it.
If you see a button that says Add account, tap it and choose Facebook from the list. You will be asked to log into Facebook — use the same email or phone number you use for Instagram. If you already see your Facebook account listed under Accounts Center, your accounts are already connected.
Once the connection is complete, go back to Instagram's main screen. The next time you create a post, you will see a toggle switch that says Also post to Facebook or similar wording. Turn it on if you want that post to appear on both platforms.
How to connect on a computer
Go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click Settings. On the left side, click Accounts Center.
Click Add account and select Facebook. Log into your Facebook account using the same email or phone number as your Instagram account. Once you confirm, the accounts are linked.
When you post from Instagram's website, you will see a checkbox labeled Also post to Facebook below your caption. Check it to send the post to both platforms at once.
What happens when you connect them
Your Instagram and Facebook accounts become linked in Meta's system, but they remain separate. Your Instagram followers do not automatically become your Facebook friends, and your Facebook friends do not automatically see your Instagram posts unless you choose to share them.
When you turn on the cross-posting toggle while uploading a photo or video, Instagram sends that post to your Facebook profile or page. The post appears on Facebook with the same caption and image, though the layout may look slightly different because Facebook and Instagram format posts differently.
Your Instagram messages and Facebook messages stay separate — they do not merge. However, if you have the Facebook Messenger app, you can see Instagram direct messages there if you choose to turn that feature on in settings.
Fixing common connection problems
If you cannot find Accounts Center, make sure you are using the current version of Instagram. Open your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), search for Instagram, and tap Update if an update is available. Close Instagram completely and open it again.
If you see an error message when trying to connect, the most common cause is using different email addresses or phone numbers for each account. Check that both your Instagram and Facebook accounts are registered under the same contact information. If they are not, you will need to update one of them first — go to that account's settings and change the email or phone number to match the other.
If you are trying to connect a Facebook Page instead of a personal Facebook account, the process is slightly different. From Accounts Center, look for an option to add a Page rather than a personal account. You must be an admin of that Page to connect it.
How to disconnect your accounts
Open Instagram, tap the menu icon, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. You will see your connected accounts listed. Tap Facebook, then tap Remove account. Confirm when Instagram asks if you are sure.
Disconnecting stops new posts from going to Facebook, but it does not delete posts you already shared there. Those posts stay on your Facebook profile or page. You can delete them manually from Facebook if you want them removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect Instagram to a Facebook Page instead of my personal profile?
Yes. In Accounts Center, choose to add a Page instead of a personal account. You must be an admin of that Page. When you post, you can choose whether to send it to your personal Instagram, the Page, or both.
What if I have multiple Instagram accounts?
You can connect multiple Instagram accounts to the same Facebook account through Accounts Center. Each Instagram account will have its own toggle to cross-post. Switch between your Instagram accounts in the app to control which one posts where.
Do my Instagram followers see my Facebook posts automatically?
No. Your Instagram followers only see posts you share to Instagram. If you turn on cross-posting, the same post also goes to Facebook, but only your Facebook friends or Page followers see it there — not your Instagram followers.
Can I schedule posts to both platforms at the same time?
Yes, if you use Instagram's scheduling feature (available on the website and in the mobile app for some accounts). When you schedule a post, you can turn on the cross-posting toggle, and the post will go to both platforms at the scheduled time.
What if I want to post to Instagram but not Facebook?
Just leave the cross-posting toggle off when you upload. The post will only go to Instagram. You control this for each post individually, so you can cross-post some posts and not others.